03/04/2026

BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | APR 3, 2026

14

Corporate real estate players tighten belts: Knight Frank

Hata records RM1.04b transactions processed in 2025 PETALING JAYA: Hata.io, a dual licensed digital asset exchange (DAX) in Malaysia, has recorded a total of RM1.04 billion in trans actions processed in 2025, marking a notable achievement in the company’s growth trajectory. This strong transaction perfor mance was supported by sus tained deposit activity through out the year. Monthly fiat deposit volumes consistently reached RM16.1 million, scaling to a peak of RM28.7 million. Crypto deposit activity remained robust, with the platform receiving a monthly average of 2.65 million in crypto unit deposits. On total assets under custody (AUC), Hata achieved another significant milestone by reaching its highest accumulated AUC of RM115 million by September 2025 across Hata Malaysia and Hata Global platforms. Importantly, despite short-term fluctuations and market volatility, investors continue to choose Hata as their platform of choice for trading, positioning themselves ahead of the next growth cycle. This sustained confidence is also reflected directly in Hata’s expanding and highly engaged user base. Since its launch through the end of 2025, Hata has attracted over 209,000 users, becoming Malaysia’s fastest-growing home grown DAX. Millennials and Generation Z account for 83% of the overall user base, signalling to a shifting generational mindset towards younger demographics that are increasingly more finan cially and technologically engaged. “Crossing RM1.04 billion in total transactions processed and wel coming over 209,000 users across our Hata Malaysia and Hata Global platforms in 2025 reflects one thing – trust. We remain com mitted to serving our users in Malaysia and across the region by continuing to offer the cheapest fees for digital asset trading, and we look forward to working with the government and all industry partners to continue promoting the growth and development of the digital asset landscape”said co founder and CEO David Low. “Looking ahead, we believe the next phase of digital asset growth will be shaped by stronger confi dence, greater accessibility and continued infrastructure maturity.” Co-founder and chief strategy officer Darien Ng said, “Hata’s growth proves that world-class fintech innovation can be built right here in Malaysia. “With the right vision, regu latory support from the SC (Securities Commission Malaysia), and local talent, Hata is a testament to the country’s capa bilities in building a home-grown, global business that can compete confidently against international players.”

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the government plans to build 18 WtE plants nationwide through the National Solid Waste Management Department, with a projected capacity of up to 600 megawatts by 2040. “This initiative will not only ease the burden on landfills but also contribute to renewable energy generation and significantly reduce carbon emissions. “It also supports the National Energy Transition Roadmap target of achieving 70% renewable energy capacity by 2050,” he said at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sungai Udang WtE project yesterday. Present were Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, State Secretary Datuk Azhar Arshad, Housing and Local Government Ministry secretary-general Datuk M Noor Azman Taib, National Solid Waste Management Department director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Azhar Abd Hamid and Kumpulan Malakoff Corporation Bhd CEO Syahrunizam Samsudin. Nga said the Sungai Udang facility PETALING JAYA: Corporate real estate (CRE) players are tightening their belts as cost and transformation pressures mount amid a weakening global outlook, said Knight Frank in its (Y)OUR SPACE Horizon Report H1 2026. Occupiers are seeking to balance these duelling pressures, which are traditionally seen as mutually exclusive, with 70.8% of respondents strongly agreeing that they can deliver both austerity and growth in their 2026 roadmap. “Sentiment for global economic expansion is softer this year, with 38.5% of those polled seeing it as weak. For CRE players in Malaysia, this means that they must manufacture progress internally, with capital expenditure prioritised for outcomes that fund transformation or reduce long-term cost or risk. “This is an opportunity for re balancing and optimisation through right-sizing with intent,” said Knight Frank Malaysia office strategy and solutions senior executive director savings with long-term transformation in 2026 o Report says 70.8% of occupiers in survey aim to balance cost

inforcing 2026 as a year of quality over quantity. The positive tilt towards sus

employers are maintaining current workforce levels. AI adoption in the domestic context is primarily being

Teh Young Khean ( pic ). A cornerstone of this dual occupier mandate is a paradigm shift towards performance instead of presenteeism in workspaces, driven by five-year lows in headcount growth and design configuration expectations, though revenue pro jections remain optimistic. Nearly half (43.1%) of respondents agreed with the sentiment, prioritising learning outcomes and capability production in terms of learning hours, cohort programmes and mentor contact over hours in-office. “Intentions to increase occupation density and enhance amenities are holding steady, striking a balance as occupiers strive to achieve more from the same amount of space while managing workforce wellbeing. Looking ahead, productivity and efficiency will dominate organi sational strategy as firms prioritise operational optimisation,” said office strategy and solutions head of landlord representation, Kamini Palany. In line with this sentiment, more than half (50.8%) of occupiers expect artificial intelligence (AI) to be selectively embedded into core work flows in 2026. The survey indicated a measured approach to adoption moving forward, with uptake dependent on clear business use cases, rather than enterprise-wide restructure. This is seen in Malaysian work places, where about 56% of

tainable buildings sup ports resilience and green performance as the only “acceptable” capital expen diture vectors in a tight environment, as regu latory compliance and environmental commit ments continue despite a slowdown in broader spending. “Here, we anticipate

applied to administrative and business support tasks, and while pro fessionals are actively engaging with AI tools for research and information sourcing, many note a lack of formal training, accor ding to consultancies such as Monroe Consulting Group and Robert Walters Malaysia.

secure, scalable energy to grow as a decisive factor for site selection and investment, particularly if AI impacts on workflows render energy solvency non-negotiable. Moving forward, occupiers may look to the three-outcome rule in evaluating capital expenditure outlay, where every project is attached to cost reduction, resilience or capability building results, with approval contingent on explicit delivery of these outcomes,” concluded office strategy and solutions head of tenant representation Naythan Chong. The report draws on a focused pulse survey from 65 senior CRE leaders across the Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific, Australasia and Americas regions, undertaken in January-February. It is intended to gauge how CRE leaders are preparing to navigate the six months immediately ahead of them.

“The indicators are clear: 2026 is a year for targeted workplace optimi sation, not reinvention. Leaders are comfortable with adjustments that enhance collaboration, support hybrid rhythms or improve employee experience at the margins. We anti cipate occupiers to programme learning-intensive environments, where AI use changes how teams work and configure data-sensitive collaboration, without large capital expenditure outlays or sweeping redesigns,” said Teh. Despite reduced appetite for capital expenditure and spatial or operational expansion, organisations remain prepared to advance compliance-aligned improvements. About 36.7% of occupiers surveyed shared that they anticipate an increase in sustainably accredited buildings within their portfolios within the next few months, re

Malaysia to build 18 waste-to-energy plants by 2040 MALACCA: The ongoing conflict in West Asia is triggering major ripple effects across global energy markets, strengthening the case for Malaysia to accelerate waste-to-energy (WtE) development as a renewable power source.

Nga (second, left) and Ab Rauf (second, right) viewing a model of the Sungai Udang WtE project in Malacca yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

dioxide emissions annually, equi valent to removing about 56,000 vehicles from the road. “The WtE technology can reduce up to 85% of solid waste sent to landfills, while the remaining 15% can be repurposed through circular economy approaches,” Nga said. – Bernama

including a three-year construction phase. Once completed, the plant will process up to 1,000 tonnes of solid waste daily and generate 22 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to power around 46,000 homes. It is also expected to cut more than 259,000 tonnes of carbon

will be Malaysia’s second WtE plant, following the success of the first in Ladang Tanah Merah, Negeri Sembilan. The project, developed on a 3.96 hectare site via open tender, involves an investment of RM660 million and is expected to be fully operational by 2029, with a 34-year concession